Gather together, yes, gather, O shameless nation,
Zephaniah has just announced the ruin of Judah and the terrors of the day of the Lord, and chapter 2 turns to that same doomed nation with a summons. Why summon a people already under sentence, and what hope do those who obey still have?
The Turn from Sentence to Summons
The verse marks a change of tone in the book. The prophet has described a nation that trusts in its own security. Now he stops describing and starts appealing. (In these quotes, "Jehovah" is God's own name.)
William KellyThe first chapter showed the coming ruin of Judea. It came from the corruption of the people and their princes. It showed the horrors of the day of Jehovah falling on their selfish security and on the things they trusted in vain. In the second chapter we have a call to repentance... It is an appeal to humble themselves before the Lord.
What "Gather" and "Not Desired" Mean
The word behind the command pictures dry fuel raked up, not a solemn assembly. The name God gives the nation says what was wrong with it. (Older translations read "nation not desired"; the ESV has "shameless nation".)
Arno Clemens GaebeleinBecause that day is coming, the call goes out to the nation to humble themselves and to repent... The threat close at hand in Zephaniah is the Babylonian power. But all of it points to the future day of the Lord. They are to gather themselves together. The word used for "gather" means gathering stubble or wood for burning. In their unbelief they were worthless as stubble and dry wood, fit for burning. Some have translated the phrase "not desired" as "which does not turn pale." But that cannot be supported. The better meaning is "unashamed."
Why the Word "Before" Is Repeated
The reason for hurrying is given in the next breath: the sentence is already settled, and the moment it lands there will be nothing left to gather.
Arno Clemens GaebeleinThe second verse gives the reason why they should humble themselves and be ashamed of all their evil doings. Because the decree of judgment has gone forth, the fierce anger of the Lord in His day is about to pass as the chaff.
One Message, Two Audiences
The summons goes out to the whole nation. Yet it marks off a smaller group inside it: those who fear God.
J. N. DarbyZephaniah 2 shows what the nation is really like, and it still speaks to her. The aim is that at least all who fear Jehovah may be hidden in the day of His anger. The call goes out to them to gather themselves together and to seek Jehovah, before the decree of judgment takes effect and His fierce anger overtakes them. So the remnant are marked out. The meek, who have done what is right, are called to seek meekness and righteousness, so that they may be hidden. This is true even though the message is spoken to the whole nation. For, after all, God remembered the purposes of His grace.
Kelly draws the same line, and names what each side receives:
William KellyWe see there are these two calls. To the nation there is a suited warning; but an earnest appeal is made to the remnant of righteous Jews. These were "the meek of the earth."
The Prophet's Own Name as the Promise
The hope offered to those who obey is written into the prophet's own name.
Arno Clemens GaebeleinThe promise is held out that they would be hid in the day of the Lord's anger. Zephaniah means "hidden by the LORD" or "whom the LORD hides"; His name comes into play as a comfort that the godly will be hid in the day of the Lord.
Kelly sets that hiding place beside the Christian's hope, and finds them opposite:
William KellyAll through Scripture we see that this is what God gives the godly Jew. They do not expect to be caught up to heaven as we do, but they hope to be hidden on earth... It is the exact opposite of what the Christian is given, though both are to be blessed. When the day comes, we shall come along with Him who brings it. In that day of judgment on the world they will be hidden in His mercy and faithfulness.
Beyond Zephaniah's Own Day
The message was not spent on Zephaniah's own generation.
Morrish Bible DictionaryThe prophecy speaks to the people as a nation "without shame" (instead of "not desired"). They are called to seek Jehovah, in the hope that a remnant might be hidden in the day of His wrath... but the prophecy looks on to the future great day of God's wrath.
Summary
- Shameless. God names the nation by what it lacked: shame. The word for gathering pictures dry stubble raked up for the fire.
- Gather. The summons is a call to repentance. It tells a whole nation to humble itself before the Lord.
- Before. The decree of judgment is on its way, so the call is urgent: seek Him before His fierce anger overtakes you.
- Distinguished. The message goes to everyone, but it marks out a remnant: the meek, who seek righteousness and meekness. God still remembered His purposes of grace.
- Hidden. The promise matches the prophet's own name, "whom the LORD hides." The godly are sheltered on earth through the day of anger. Kelly marks that off from the Christian's hope of being taken to heaven.